Science and Research

Subclinical impairment of the left atrium is associated with MRI-based lung volume but not with parameters from pulmonary function testing

Left atrial (LA) physiology and hemodynamics are intimately connected to cardiac and lung function in health and disease. This study examined the relationship between MRI-based left atrial (LA) size and function with MRI-based lung volume and pulmonary function testing (PFT) parameters in the population-based KORA study cohort of 400 participants without overt cardiovascular disease. MRI quantification assessed LA size/function in sequences with and without ECG synchronization, alongside lung volume. Regression analysis explored the relationship of LA with MRI lung volume and PFT parameters. Among 378 participants (average age 56.3 ± 9.2 years; 42.3% women), non-gated LA size averaged 16.8 cm(2), while maximal and minimal LA size from gated measurements were 19.6 cm(2) and 11.9 cm(2) respectively. The average MRI-derived lung volume was 4.0 L, with PFT showing a total lung capacity of 6.2 L, residual lung volume of 2.1 L, and forced vital capacity of 4.1 L. Multivariate regression analysis, adjusted for age, gender, and cardiovascular risk factors, revealed an inverse association between maximum LA size, non-gated LA, and LA area fraction with lung volume (ß = - 0.03, p = 0.006; ß = - 0.03, p = 0.021; ß = - 0.01, p = 0.012), with no significant association with PFT parameters. This suggests that MRI-based assessment may offer greater sensitivity in detecting subclinical LA impairment than PFT.

  • Wintergerst, C.
  • Lorbeer, R.
  • Mujaj, B.
  • Bulwer, B. E.
  • Rospleszcz, S.
  • Askani, E.
  • Schulz, H.
  • Karrasch, S.
  • Peters, A.
  • Schlett, C. L.
  • Bamberg, F.
  • von Krüchten, R.

Keywords

  • Humans
  • Female
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • *Heart Atria/diagnostic imaging/physiopathology
  • *Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods
  • *Respiratory Function Tests
  • Aged
  • Lung/diagnostic imaging/physiopathology
  • Lung Volume Measurements
  • Atrial Function, Left/physiology
  • Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
  • Population-based whole-body MRI
  • Subclinical cardiopulmonary impairment
Publication details
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-70777-w
Journal: Sci Rep
Pages: 21054 
Number: 1
Work Type: Original
Location: CPC-M
Disease Area: PLI
Partner / Member: HMGU
Access-Number: 39251644

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